Riley Family Soda Bread Recipes

GRANDPA MCANDREW'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a cast iron skillet.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and sugar. Toss the raisins with the flour mixture until coated. Make a well in the center and add the egg, buttermilk, and melted margarine. Stir until all of the dry ingredients are absorbed. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a few quick turns just to even out the dough. Handle the dough as little as possible. Pat into a flat circle, and place into the prepared pan.
• Bake the bread for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are golden.

MARILYN O'REILLY'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Set a rack in the middle level of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, soda and salt and stir well to mix.
• Add the butter and rub in until the butter disappears into the dry ingredients.
• Stir in the caraway seeds if used and the raisins.
• In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk and egg together and mix into the dough mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Turn the dough out on a floured work surface and fold it over on itself several times, shaping it into a round loaf. Transfer the loaf to one cookie sheet or jelly roll pan covered with parchment or foil and cut a cross in the top. Bake for 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes more, until well colored and a toothpick plunged into the center emerges clean.
• Cool the soda bread on a rack and serve with plenty of sweet butter and bitter orange marmalade.

RACHEL ALLEN'S IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C or mark 8).
• Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pout in most of the buttermilk, leaving about ¼ cup (50 ml) in the measuring cup. Using one hand with your fingers outstretched like a claw, bring the flour and liquid together, adding more buttermilk, if necessary. Don't knead the mixture, or it will become heavy. The dough should be soft, but not too wet and sticky.
• When the dough comes together, turn it onto a floured work surface and bring it together a little more. Pat the dough into a round about 1½ inches (4 cm) thick and cut a deep cross in it. Place on a baking sheet. (I lined mine with parchment paper.).
• Bake for 15 minutes. Turn down the heat to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C or gas mark 6) and bake for 30 minutes more. When done, the load will sound slightly hollow when tapped on the bottom and be golden in color.
• Rachel recommends turning the bread upside down for the last 5 minutes.

IRISH SODA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease two 8x4 inch loaf pans.
• Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the eggs, sour cream and raisins and mix until just combined. Distribute batter evenly between the two pans.
• Bake loaves at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 1 hour.